Demur, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Demurred; p. pr. & vb. n. Demurring.]
Etymology: [OF. demurer, demorer, demourer, to linger, stay, F. demeurer, fr. L. demorari; de- + morari to delay, tarry, stay, mora delay; prob. originally, time for thinking, reflection, and akin to memor mindful. See Memory.]
1. To linger; to stay; to tarry. [Obs.] Yet durst not demur nor abide upon the camp. Nicols.
2. To delay; to pause; to suspend proceedings or judgment in view of a doubt or difficulty; to hesitate; to put off the determination or conclusion of an affair. Upon this rub, the English embassadors thought fit to demur. Hayward.
3. To scruple or object; to take exception; as, I demur to that statement.
4. (Law)
1 more senses
To interpose a demurrer. See Demurrer, 2.
2 other Webster entries under this spelling
Demur, v. t.
1. To suspend judgment concerning; to doubt of or hesitate about. [Obs.] The latter I demur, for in their looks Much reason, and in their actions, oft appears. Milton.
2. To cause delay to; to put off. [Obs.] He demands a fee, And then demurs me with a vain delay. Quarles.
Demur, n.
Stop; pause; hesitation as to proceeding; suspense of decision or action; scruple. All my demurs but double his attacks; At last he whispers, "Do; and we go snacks." Pope.
Shades of meaning
Fernald lists demur only as an antonym, under agree.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.